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The JANUS Signal: Expanding Stages & Shaping the Future
Pitch Pulse doubles in size, pushing for pro-startup policies at UC San Diego, and a deadline extension for VNP Cohort 3.
JANUS SIGNAL
July 27, 2026
JANUS SIGNAL
July 2026 | Read online
Editor’s Note
Welcome to the latest edition of the JANUS Signal.
This month highlights how true innovation transcends borders. Global demand has officially expanded Pitch Pulse into two full stages for defense and dual-use tech.
Beyond the pitch, we also brought our startups' voices to UC San Diego to advocate for regulatory standards that empower early-stage growth.
Inside this edition, we take you inside the Pitch Pulse Traction and Concept stages, spotlight MindWave Therapeutics' cross-border founder journey, and announce an important deadline extension for VNP Cohort 3.
JANUS at UC San Diego
Bringing the Startup Lens to Future Innovation Standards
Aras Sheikhi, representing JANUS Innovation Hub, joined national leaders at UC San Diego to contribute to a draft of the next generation of Smart Regulatory and Standards Principles.
Drawing on insights from 102 startups across the JANUS portfolio, he brought an early-stage founder perspective to the discussions, emphasizing the importance of policies that support innovation rather than create unnecessary barriers.
During two days of discussions at UC San Diego, including a working session with leaders from ANSI and the Council on Competitiveness, Aras highlighted three regulatory priorities consistently raised by startups: predictability, risk-proportionate regulation, and practical navigability.
The gathering also reinforced San Diego’s growing position as an innovation ecosystem, particularly in AI, bio and health, security and resiliency, and maritime technology.
Reflecting on the importance of innovation-friendly regulatory systems, Aras shared:
“The future of innovation won’t be defined only by breakthrough technologies. It will also be defined by our ability to build regulatory systems that are predictable, agile, and innovation-enabling.”
Global Demand Drives Pitch Pulse to Expand into Two Stages
When we initially designed Pitch Pulse, our goal was to build a strategic pipeline rather than just another crowded pitch event.
The remarkable response from the startup community has truly validated that mission.
We received over 300 applications across just three verticals, with more than 90 applications pouring in for the Security and Defense showcase alone.
What stands out the most is that this energy is not limited to California. We received incredible applications from founders all across the globe, proving that true innovation knows no borders.
To ensure we could give these exceptional founders the platform and time they deserve, we officially expanded the Security and Defense vertical into two targeted sessions: the Traction Stage and the Concept Stage. The momentum is real, and the journey is just beginning.
Pitch Pulse Recap
Inside the Traction Stage
The first session of our Security and Defense vertical kicked off with the Traction Stage on July 10. This stage was dedicated to teams that have successfully moved beyond the concept phase and are building real-world momentum from resilience to readiness.
The virtual stage saw impressive live presentations from a strong lineup of innovators:
Smart Jet Aviation LLC
Genesis Codes
Lorica Technologies
NouchiX
Tiami Networks
Patero Inc.
EveryKey
The top startups from this highly competitive session have secured their spots to advance to the Pitch Pulse Grand Finale during San Diego Startup Week.
Pitch Pulse Recap
Inside the Concept Stage
Following the incredible energy of our first round, the showcase continued on July 17 with the Concept Stage. This session highlighted early-stage founders who are ready to showcase their bold visions and introduce the next wave of defense and dual-use technology.
We had the privilege of hearing brilliant pitches from:
JELLYSPACE
SLAM EYE
Feather Dynamics
Benthic Spectral Inc.
Dirac Labs
AutonomyOps
OrbitalSentinel
With both sessions now complete, the top startups will head to the Grand Finale. Held in collaboration with Startup World Cup, the overall winner will earn the chance to compete for a $1 million investment prize.
Stay tuned as we announce our finalists soon!
A Special Thanks to Our Judges & Partners
Empowering the Ecosystem and Guiding the Next Wave of Innovators
A big thank you to our expert judges across both stages, Scott Tait, Marshall Fritz, and Aras Sheikhi, for their thoughtful feedback, support, and invaluable guidance to these rising teams.
We are also incredibly grateful to our ecosystem partners Connect, Startup San Diego, Startup Grind, Startup Science, F6S, and Avidus for helping us create meaningful opportunities for founders.
Real Founder Stories
The MindWave Therapeutics Journey
Meet Sina Radi, a researcher from UC San Diego and the co-founder of MindWave Therapeutics. Together with Erik Shamsedeen, they are building an immersive neurotech platform that uses real time EEG headphones to revolutionize emotional regulation and expression.
The startup operates with a truly global vision. In the US, Erik is focused on software and community building to aid neurodivergent families with objective emotion coaching. Meanwhile, Sina is in China working with Plug and Play on hardware manufacturing, tailoring their technology for the elderly and neurogaming.
Their innovative headphones can actually understand a user's brain states and modulate the learning experience in real time.
But every global journey starts with a supportive local community. As an immigrant founder, Sina shared how finding the right ecosystem shaped his path:
"I migrated to California at a young age and was always told to make foreign friends to better my English. But at JANUS, we found our community and a place to just be ourselves."
Through the JANUS Innovation Hub, the MindWave team found the traction, professional connections, and validation they needed to win pitch competitions and grow rapidly.
Building a startup is hard, but the right ecosystem changes everything.
Are you ready to find your community and write your own founder story?
Applications for the Venture Nurture Program Cohort 3 are NOW OPEN.
Deadline Extended
Venture Nurture Program Cohort 3
Great news for early stage founders! We have officially extended the application deadline for Cohort 3 of the Venture Nurture Program (VNP) to August 15th.
VNP is a six-month incubation journey built for execution rather than just theory. We work closely with founders to turn early ideas into testable and fundable products. Instead of offering passive advice, we provide direct support in product direction, branding, investor readiness, and ecosystem connections.
If you have a committed team and are ready to build, test, and move toward real traction, our team is ready to build alongside you.
New Application Deadline: August 15th
Make sure to follow JANUS Innovation Hub on LinkedIn for further updates.
The New NeuroTech Frontiers Platform is LIVE
We are thrilled to announce that the redesigned NeuroTech Frontiers website is officially live. Built entirely on your feedback, the new platform makes it easier to access resources, stay updated on the ecosystem, and explore our upcoming October conference.
To celebrate the launch, we are offering a special 20% discount on your conference registration.
Use the promo code LAUNCH26 at checkout. Hurry, this special offer is only valid until the end of the month!
Explore the new platform and secure your spot today:
Driving Neuroinclusion Forward
The Road to Nashville
Great ideas start with a single conversation, but real progress happens when the right minds are in the same room.
As we move closer to our October gathering at NeuroTech Frontiers in Nashville, our focus remains on one clear goal: bringing together the founders, investors, and researchers who are actively building the neurotech ecosystem.
It’s time to move beyond individual efforts. By connecting as a united community, we can accelerate innovation and champion true neuroinclusion.
We look forward to continuing this vital work with you this fall.
📅 October 13-15, 2026
📍 Nashville, TN
🌐 Explore the gathering & secure your spot:
Ecosystem Calendar
Key Dates to Watch
Stay connected and mark your calendars for these upcoming milestones and deadlines across our ecosystem:
August 15: Venture Nurture Program (VNP) Cohort 3 Application Deadline.
August 21: Pitch Pulse - Maritime: Beyond the Horizon.
Join us as high-potential startups shaping the future of the maritime industry pitch live.
Learn More: [Website] | [LinkedIn] | [Luma]October 13–15, 2026: NeuroTech Frontiers Conference.
Reminder to use promo code LAUNCH26 before the end of the month to get 20% off your registration.
Stay Connected with the JANUS Ecosystem
The pipeline is moving, and the next wave of innovation is already here. Whether you are building, investing, or scaling, let's build the future together.
Stay in the loop with everything happening inside the hub:
🌐 Website: janusinnovationhub.com
💼 LinkedIn: Follow JANUS on LinkedIn
🐦 X (Twitter): Follow JANUS on X
🖼 Instagram: Follow JANUS on Instagram